Journal control



Oct. 27, 1964 c. s. BOHMER 3,154,354

JOURNAL CONTROL Filed April 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

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Oct. 27, 1964 c. s. BOHMER 3,154,354

JOURNAL CONTROL Filed April 3, 1961 2 SheetsSheet 2 J Z giar/es ZVEZZZKI, M,%M/(//1 [QM 14 ifomeys.

United States Patent 3,154,354 JGURNAL CONTROL Charles S. Bohmer, Hillsboro, 11L, assignor to Railway Car Equipment Co., Hillshoro, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 109,402 4 Claims. (Cl. 308-411) This invention relates generally to railroad car axle journalling assemblies and concerns, more particularly, an improved journal control for use in railroad car. journal boxes.

In my copending application Serial No. 789,122, filed January 26, 1959, now abandoned, there is disclosed and claimed a journal controlling concept intended for incorporation in standard railroad journal boxes. The present application relates to a journal control structure constituting an improvement over the structure shown in that application.

The advantages of the journal control concept have been set forth in some detail in the above-identified application and it will, therefore, be unnecessary to repeat them here. It will be sufficient to observe that journal control involves the positioning of a pair of control members within a standard railroad journal box so that shifting movement of the box, and thus of the railroad car itself, both radially and axially of the wheel-carrying axle is limited and controlled.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a journal control structure of the class generally discussed above that is quite easy to install within a journal box. More particularly, the structure of the invention has no right hand or left hand parts so that installation can be made without difficulty. Moreover, installation of the above structure does not require the drilling of holes in the journal box, a significant advantage from a structural as well as an installation standpoint.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a journal control as characterized above whose wearing parts can be easily replaced when necessary.

A further important object is to provide a journal control of the above type which is quite economical to manufacture both as to the amount of material required and the methods of construction made possible by the design.

Another object is to provide a journal control as described above in which relatively soft bearing material is solidly and rigidly mounted so as to be well able to absorb the large forces involved.

A collateral object is to provide a journal control of the above character affording full shielding of a mounting plate by the bearing material that is designed to engage the axle to avoid the likelihood of the axle striking the mounting plate itself.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section of a railroad car axle journalling assembly in which is embodied a journal control embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation, partially in section, taken transversely through the assembly shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation of one of the journal controls shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the control shown in FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are elevations of the fastening device used to secure the journal control parts together.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, I intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown a railroad car axle journalling assembly 16 which includes a journal box 11 having opposite side walls 12 and 13 and that is formed integrally with a truck frame 18. The journal box 11 receives the outer end of an axle 14 having a reduced diameter journal portion 15 and a radially extending end collar 16. Interposed between the journal portion 15 of the axle 14 and the upper portion of the journal box 11 is a bearing assembly 17 known as the journal brass.

As those familiar with this art will appreciate, the axle 14 carries the wheel of the railroad car, and the weight of the car is transmitted through the truck frame 18 to the axle journal portion 15. The bearing assembly 17 permits free rotation of the axle relative to the journal box.

Those familiar with this art will also appreciate that the parts cannot be expected to remain in their illustrated, static positions when the journalling assembly is in operation. Particularly at high speeds, it has been observed that journal boxes and their associated axles move substantial distances suddenly and sharply as the railroad cars swing about a curve in the track or the wheels bounce over minor rail imperfections such as the joints between adjoining rails. As a result, there is considerable, highly undesirable, relative movement between the journal box 11 and the axle 14 both radially and axially of the axle. A more complete discussion of this phenomenon can be found in the application identified above and reference is made thereto for that purpose.

For controlling relative movement between the axle 14 and the journal box 11, a pair of journal control assemblies 21 and 22 are fixed to the box side walls 12, 13, respectively, so as to present right angled faces 23, 24 and 25, 26 which are closely spaced from the axle journal portion 15 and the axle collar 16 (see FIG. 2). In this Way, side-.to-side or radial movement of the axle 14 is prevented by abutment of the journal portion 15 with the opposed faces 24, 26 on the respective control assemblies 21, 22. Axial movement of the axle 14 is limited by abutment of the inner face of the collar 16 with the faces 23, 25 on the respective assemblies 21, 22. It will be understood that in the assembly 10, the faces 23, 25 will restrict movement of the journal box 11 to the left of the axle 14, where-as movement of the railroad car in the opposite direction, that is to the right in the drawings, will be restricted by engagement of a collar at the opposite end of the axle with the journal control assemblies fixed in the journal box at that opposite axle end. Again, for a more complete discussion of the operation and advan tages of this journal control concept, reference is made to the above-identified application. For purposes of understanding the present invention, it will be suficient to observe that the assemblies 21, 22 do restrict relative movement between the axle 14 and the journal box 11, both radially and axially of the axle, and that these assemblies 21, 22 are subjected to substantial forces during operation, particularly high-speed operation, of the axle journalling assembly 10.

In keeping with the invention, the assemblies 21, 22 are identical, there being no right sided and left sided units, and the load bearing surfaces or faces 23, 24 and 25, 26 are defined by control members 31 and 32, respectively, which are solidly mounted on plates 33 and 34, respectively, fixed to the journal box side walls 12, 13. The plates 33, 34 are preferably Welded about their peripheries directly to the side walls 12, 13 of the journal box.

The members 31, 32 and their plates 33, 34 have closely interfitted male and female portions which prevent movement of the members axially of the axle 14. In the preferred construction, the male portion is defined by a central, vertically extending, projecting po1tion41 formed integrally with each of the plates 33, 34. The members 31, 32 are generally U -shaped, having arms 42 and 43 which closely embrace the projecting portions 41 and define the female portion of the connections.

It is important to'note that the arms 42, 43 are slightly longer than the projecting portions 41 so that the ends of the arms flatly abut the plates 33, 34 (seeparticulaxly FIG. In this way, a particularly solid mounting for the control members 31, 32 is provided and the shock forces imposed against the faces 24, 26 aretransferred directly to the mounting plates 33, 34, and thus to the side walls 12,13 of the jurnal box, without tending to distort the parts.

For securing the control members 31, 32 to their respective mounting plates 33, 34, alined apertures are formed through the arms 42, 43 and the projecting portions 41 which receive locks in the form of cotter pins 51 modified in accordance with a further feature of the invention. In the illustrated and preferred construction, two sets of alined apertures, and thus a pair of the cotter pins 51, are'provided for each of the control assemblies 21, 22. The cotter pins 51 are configured so as to have arms 52 and 53 approximately equal to the length of the apertures through the assemblies 21, 22. The arms 52, 53 are sprung when the cotter pins 51 are in their relaxed state (see FIGS. 6 and 7) so that the arms diverge slightly and thus, when the cotter pins are inserted through he alined apertures, the diverging arms resiliently bear on the Walls of the apertures. This insures a snug fitting lock between the control members 31, 32 and their respective mounting plates 33, 34.

The arm 53 of the cotter pins- 51 is also formed with a permanently deflected tip while the opposite arm 52 is cut slightly shorter than the tip carrying arm 53. As a result, the arm 53 bends slightly as the tip 54 is driven through the alined apertures in the assemblies 21, 22

until the cotter pins are fully seated, whereupon the tips 54 snap over the edges of one end of the alined apertures and positively lock the cotter pins in place. This construction prevents vibration from inadvertently shaking the cotter pins loose, and yet enables a workman to insert any hook-like implement into the heads of the cotter pins so as to easily pull them clear of the assemblies 21, 22. when it is desired to service the units.

It is important to note that because of the snug fit between the arms 42, 43 on either side of the projecting portions 41, and further because of the solid seating of the arms 42, 43 against the plates 33, 34, the cotter pins 51 are not called upon to bear any load when the axle journal portion 15 or the axle collar 16 slam against the control assemblies 21, 22. The cotter pins simply hold the control members 31, 32 in position on their respective mounting plates 33, 34.

It can now be appreciated that the control assemblies 21, 22 can be very readily initially installed in the journal box 11 and also that replacement of the wearing parts, i.e., the control members 31, 32, can be accomplished simply and quickly. Those familiar with manufacturing techniques will also appreciate that because of the uniform cross section of both the control members 31, 32 and their mounting plates 33, 34, these parts can be economically formed by sectioning extruded bars having the proper cross section. That is, a bar of bearing material such as bronze having a generally -U-shaped cross section can be easily cut into short lengths to form the control members 31, 32, and an elongated bar, preferably steel, having a generally T-shaped cross section can be sectioned to provide the mounting plates 33, 34. The construction disclosed is, therefore, particularly economical to manufacture.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a railroad car axle journalling assembly including a journal box having opposite side Walls and rotatably receiving the journal portion of an axle formed with a radially extending collar, the combination comprising, a pair of mounting plates secured to said side walls with the plates being on opposite sides of said journal portion, a pair of control members mounted on respective ones of said plates, said plates and members having closely interfi-tted portions preventing movement of said members axially of the axle, said members having right angled surfaces closely spaced from the axle journal portion and said collar so as to limit relative movement between the axle in the journal box both axially and radially'of the axle, said members and the projecting portions on which they are mounted having alined apertures, and cotter pins extending through said alined apertures, each one of said pins having two arms which are slightly sprung so as to resiliently bear on the sides of said apertures and having a permanently deflected tip on one arm snapped over the edge of one end of the alined apertures so as to releasably lock said pin in place while the other arm is shorter than the tip arm to permit the pin to be easily withdrawn.

2. A journal control assembly for a railroad journal box comprising, in combination, a mounting plate solidly mounted on a Wall of said'box, a control member mounted on said plate, said plate and said member having close- 1y interfitted portions, said interfit-ted portions having alined apertures, and a cotter. pin extending through said alined apertures, said pin having two arms which are slightly sprung so as to resiliently bear on the sides of said apertures and having a permanently deflected tip on one arm snapped over the edge of one end of the alined apertures so as to releasably lock said pin in place while the other arm is shorter than the tip arm so as to permit the pin to be easily withdrawn.

3. A journal control assembly for a railroad journal box comprising, in combination, a mounting plate solidly mounted on a wall of said box, said plate being T-shaped and having a central, integnal projecting portion extending from said wall, a generally U-shaped control member having arms closely fitted on either'side of said projecting portion and abutting said plate, said arms and said projeoting portion having alined apertures, and a cotter pin etxending through said alined apertures, said pin being slightly sprung so as to resiliently bear on the sides of said apertures and having a permanently deflected tip snapped over the edge of one end of the alined apertures so as to releasably lock said pin in place. a

4. In a railway car axle journal assembly including a journal box having opposite side walls and rotatably receiving a journal portion of an axle, the combination com! prising, a pair of mounting plates secured to said side walls with the plates being on opposite sides of said journal portion, said plates having integnal projecting portions so as to be generally T-shaped, a pair of control members mounted on respective ones of said plates, said members being generally U-shaped and having arms closely fitted on either side of said projecting portions with the ends of said arms abutting the respective plates, and a lock passing through alined openings in said arms and each of said projecting portions about which the arms fit so as to prevent displacement of the control members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Heinkel Aug. 15, 1919 Pilcher July 24, 1934 

1. IN A RAILROAD CAR AXLE JOURNALLING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A JOURNAL BOX HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS AND ROTATABLY RECEIVING THE JOURNAL PORTION OF AN AXLE FORMED WITH A RADIALLY EXTENDING COLLAR, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A PAIR OF MOUNTING PLATES SECURED TO SAID SIDE WALLS WITH THE PLATES BEING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID JOURNAL PORTION, A PAIR OF CONTROL MEMBERS MOUNTED ON RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PLATES, SAID PLATES AND MEMBERS HAVING CLOSELY INTERFITTED PORTIONS PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS AXIALLY OF THE AXLE, SAID MEMBERS HAVING RIGHT ANGLED SURFACES CLOSELY SPACED FROM THE AXLE JOURNAL PORTION AND SAID COLLAR SO AS TO LIMIT RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE AXLE IN THE JOURNAL BOX BOTH AXIALLY AND RADIALLY OF THE AXLE, SAID MEMBERS AND THE PROJECTING PORTIONS ON WHICH THEY ARE MOUNTED HAVING ALINED APERTURES, AND COTTER PINS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ALINED APERTURES, EACH ONE OF SAID PINS HAVING TWO ARMS WHICH ARE SLIGHTLY SPRUNG SO AS TO RESILIENTLY BEAR ON THE SIDES OF SAID APERTURES AND HAVING A PERMANENTLY DEFLECTED TIP ON ONE ARM SNAPPED OVER THE EDGE OF ONE END OF THE ALINED APERTURES SO AS TO RELEASABLY LOCK SAID PIN IN PLACE WHILE THE OTHER ARM IS SHORTER THAN THE TIP ARM TO PERMIT THE PIN TO BE EASILY WITHDRAWN. 